Page 61 of The Demon's Delight
He smirked. “I see. This summoner. They’re a potential mate, then?”
I was momentarily stunned, though perhaps I should have expected his expert perception. “Sir?”
The sigh he gave was deep and long. “You insult my gifts, Seir. And my capacity for empathy.” He sat back, arms crossed.“Bring me a proposal. I’ll do what I can from this side, but I cannot push anything through unless you return. On time.”
“Understood, sir.” My heart beat faster, optimism having returned full force with his words.
“Good. In the meantime, report for ten lashes with…” He consulted his papers again. “Asim. Hall 73.”
“Got it.” Asim and I were friendly enough.
“Check in with the desk on your way out. Go take your lumps so you can finish whatever it is you’re doing. Then get back here—on time—so we can figure out where to put you so your skills are not totally wasted, no pun intended, and so you can pursue this mate situation. Lucky bastard. Perhaps all of us should make a habit of venturing out once in a while.” He chuffed and waved his hand in dismissal.
I didn’t hesitate. As a test, I even sifted a reasonable distance, letting out a victorious whoop when I found it just as easy as it had always been. Practicing on Earth, I’d been able to do tiny leaps but not without an intense amount of effort. I was able to sift through the many halls until I arrived at Asim’s designated torture room as smoothly as a stone skipping across a lake.
“Seir? What areyoudoing here?” Asim looked very much like the goat-headed demons depicted in a variety of artwork found on Earth. He had human hands, but cloven hooves for feet and a tail much like mine.
“Ten lashes punishment,” I reported, not bothering with formality before pulling the tails of my shirt from my trousers and yanking it over my head. Then, I braced my hands against the low stone table off to one side of the room.
He grunted in surprise, sorting through the available devices hanging from the wall next to his desk. “Ah.” He consulted the scroll sitting on his worktop. “There you are. You got here fast, not that I’m surprised. What have you done to earn a punishment?”
“I missed checking in for a full shift cycle. A little side work on Earth. I got summoned!”
“Really? Congratulations! First time, right?”
“Yes, first one. Very odd feeling, still not sure if I liked it or not.”
Asim chuckled and clapped my shoulder in a friendly way. “Good for you. Are you back then?” He shook out the long coil of whip he’d grabbed off a peg and did a test crack. The noise was painfully loud in the confined space.
“No, I have to go finish up once I’m done here. I’m in a bit of a rush, actually.”
He snorted. “Got a hot date waiting for you topside, then?”
I smiled wide, and Asim blinked. He’d been joking, but I was all too willing to take the opening. “Yes, actually. I’m pretty sure I’ve found my mate.”
He made a choking noise. “Really?”
“Yes! She’s the one who summoned me, though it’s a bit more complicated than that.”
“Of course it is. To have that kind of luck is a gift, friend.” He shook his head. “Alright, let’s get you gone then. Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.” I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, trying to keep my muscles from tensing too much. I had taken fewer lashes than many demons I knew over the decades, but enough to know that the more you braced, the more it would hurt. I started sweating in anticipation, but a blow never came. I glanced over my shoulder as Asim crossed the room again, selecting a different tool from the wall.
“Turn around. Hold your arms out, palms up.” he instructed, and while I was a little confused, I obeyed. Asim was no longer holding a whip, but a small metal rod that appeared to be steaming. “Count the lashes for me if you please.”
He struck my forearms with the rod with enough force for the skin to sting, and the heat of the metal left red burn stripes in itswake. A few were worse than the rest where they overlapped, but still barely enough to draw blood. By the end, it looked like I’d gotten into a fight with a disgruntled hellcat more than anything.
“Are you sure this is adequate?” I reached for my shirt, confused. Burns weren’t something that hurt, particularly for me.
“The requirement is that lashes be served, not that they be debilitating. It is at the discretion of the assigned torturer what tool and force to use. It’s there in the conduct code, Section 3, part 8.4.” He cracked a small smile. “I believe I’ve served a punishment proportionate to your infraction.”
“Thank you, Asim.”
“Off with you then! Find me when you return, dinner and drinks on me? I want to know all about this adventure and your mate.”
“Sure thing!” He waved as I left the little room, immediately sifting into my apartment.
I’d taken most of my valuables when I left the first time, but I scooped up my remaining few pieces of jewelry, another knife, and quickly changed into a clean set of clothes. Once I was done gathering everything I wanted, I headed toward the hall of portals at a sprint.
